-Dear friends,

As we hoped for, our Autumn Sale was a big success; good price reductions and as a result happy customers. We are planning another sale in the Spring.

On the 24th of November we are organising a Ducati Day! More about the event will be mentioned further on in this newsletter. However, we are confident that it will be an exciting event and bring much interest to you all.

Regards,
The Motorcycle Team
Harm & Robert

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THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE INFO

TCMI E-1115 -- November 2001
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1. Contents
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1. Contents
2. Ducati Bevel Drive Show
3. BSA, focusing on the Goldstar ABSAF model
4. Sint Nicholas Promotion Week, 26 November - 8 December
5. End of year show, 14 December - 5 January 2002
6. Internet and website
7. Hours ofng

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2. Ducati Bevel Drive Show on Saturday on 24 November.
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To set it in its glory, we are organising on Saturday 24 November a day filled with excitement, history as well as information about the Ducati bevel drive. Ducati started in 1926 as a manufacturer of radio parts and other technical products. After the war in Italy there was need for cheap transport and the government nationalised Ducati. The idea was to build a four-stroke engine that was designed by SIATA in Turin to be suspended underneath a bicycle and they named it "puppy". It became an overnight success and the first series of light motorbikes was manufactured. In 1954 Fabio Taglioni came to work for Ducati. The factory was in crises and his task was to make the brand successfull and bring back public confidence through successes in motoracing.

In those days, manufacturers of motorbikes competed heavily in on- road racing. These so called "Gran Fondo" races - like Motogiro & Milano-Taranto - were big publicity machines. The most outstanding race was the Motogiro, a six day racing event which covered 4000 kilometres using Ducati's hope town Bologna as starting and finishing point. Taglioni had no time to waste, so he prepared a few Ducati's 98 Sport to race in the Motogiro in the spring. They didn't do too bad, but it was clear that he needed to design something differtent to become a winner. In just a few months he designed a 100 cc engine with a camshaft on top which was powered by a bevel drive, alongside an upright drive shaft, through which cone shaped bevel gears attached to the crank shaft. He based this design on the Norton Manx, one of the most successful racingmachines of that time.

The rest is history: this bike won almost every race and Ducati was put on the map internationally. From the 100cc came the 125cc. In 1956 a cilinderhead with desmodromic valve gear was designed and the valve springs were replaced by closing rockers which ensured high revs. In 1958 the factory tried very hard for the world championship with the 125cc, but didn't succeed due to the accident of Gandosi. MV Agusta became overall winner, but their champion (Ubbiali) was beaten several times by Ducati. In 1957 production bikes were put on the market (without desmohead) as 100, 115 and 175cc. The 125 increased to 160, the 175 tot 200 and later 250 and even 350cc. In 1967 the design was drastically reviewed and remodeled with a wide case engines in a 250, 350 and 450cc. The first produced motorbike with with a desmosytem.

End 60's the superbike period started. Bikes with 2, 3 of 4 cilinders and at least 750cc. In the mid 60's Taglioni had designed several models 500 and 700cc parallel twins and even a 1260cc V4 (the Apollo) but none of them went any further than prototype stage. Even the press wasn't enthusiastic about them. In 1970, Taglioni got the go ahead to build a special superbike that was going to make a dent in the market. A 750cc V-twin with bevel drive (without desmosytem) was born. In August 71, this bike went into production with a modified rijwielgedeelte. In 1972, Paul Smart and Bruno Spaggiari won the 200 miles race on the circuit of Imola with a 750, putting MV Agusta in its place! In the same year a sportive model was produced for street use, the 750 S, and in 1974 the 750 SS with desmohead. Only 411 were handbuilt by the racing department of Ducati. In 1974 also a 864 cc came on the market, which won many endurance races. In 1978 Mike Hailwood won the Formula 1 race at the Isle of Man on a bike that was tuned by Steve Wynne.

The year after, Ducati brought out a replica model, in fact a 900 SS with race bodywork and named it the Ducati 900 Mike Hailwood Replica. In 1983, the bike was revised and the following year finally the bevel drive 1000 cc engine came into light. In 1985 the bevel drive was seem worldwide. It became so popular, a classic of its time, due to its magnificent technology and its racing success.

Program for 24th of November

---- Show of original Ducatis, restored and unrestored from the period , including a original FACTORY RACER (850cc bevel drive). For Ducati freaks there will be a display of special Ducati-parts.
---- A replica of the Ducati 125cc Gran Fondo racer, built for the de modern version of the Motogiro, (we are official dealer for Holland and Dutch speaking Belgium)
---- A display of parts for restoration and specials from Mario Sassi
---- Hopefully we can show you the well known Vee Two collection from Australia.
---- A display of old small motor parts that were used for the Ducati one cilinders and the V-twins.
---- At 14.00 hours is the finale: the unveiling of the Ducati bevel drive V-twin in its original crate (a bike we recently found in Italy).

Of course there will be refreshments served throughout the day. We look forward to see you, if possible with your own precious Ducati.

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3. BSA. The Goldstar ABSAF
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Due to the busy period of the year and other planned activities at this time, we shall arrange a Saturday after the new year to focus on the BSA Goldstar ABSAF. So keep looking on our website/newsletter. We will inform you in good time.

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4. Sint Nicholas Promotion week: 26 November - 8 December
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The festive season is around the corner. That's why we've got some good bargains on for great presents to give away this time of year.

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5. End of Year Show: 19 December - 5 January 2002
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>From 19 December till 5 January 2002 we are organising a special show, exhibiting a fantastic collection of beautiful classic motorcycles, for reduced prices. There will be many special offers, i.e. Belstaff motorbike suits. Offers you won't find every day.

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6. Internet & website
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Not only in the newsletters, you also find lots of information about our company on our website. On this site there are many different categories advertised, with photos of the bikes we have for sale and bikes we are currently looking for. You'll find there our most recent news and information about related products such as ABSAF. The information is regularly updated.

http://www.themotorcyclecompany.net
http://www.themotorcyclecompany.com

If you have any advice, hints or tips, then let us know. We are always interested.

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7.ng hours
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Wednesday till Friday from hours
Saturday from hours
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, we are closed.

P.S. There is always a free cup of cofee waiting.

P.P.S. If you know anyone interested in receiving our newsletter,
than forward on their address.

The Motorcycle Company
Ambachtstraat 3
2861 EW Bergambacht
The Netherlands
Tel.
Fax
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